A/N: I am so sorry for the really really really really really really really REALLY long wait for those of you that have been keeping up with this story. My apologies… but now the new chapter is up!

ANY ONE WHO ENJOYS WRITING MOULIN ROUGE STORIES, PLEASE CHECK OUT A CHALLENGE PUT UP BY Sugarfaerie!

Disclaimer: I don't own Lost… or anything associated with it… I don't even own the first season so… actually if hersheygal had never loaned hers to me I wouldn't be stuck in this bloody mess. Thanks a lot… lol:D

(Jack's point of view)

I'm not entirely sure why I'm still chasing after Kate. I mean… she's only brought me pain so why should I go and chase after her again. Kate is a big girl… she can take care of herself right? Sigh… wrong. I know that the Others have her now which means she wouldn't stand a chance… which is why I'm chasing after her. With only a half loaded gun to protect me… smooth Jack. And whatever happened to Sayid, Sawyer, Jin, and Bernard? Oh yeah… I ditched them way back when I was convinced that Kate would die unless I moved instantly. Another point for Jack. Oh and did I mention that I broke my foot in a retarded trip over a root so every step I take is laced with nauseating pain. So… so far my vacation here at LOST Island has been simply great. Please note sarcasm. I'm always a little cynical when I'm having fun.

(No point of view)

Michael continued to pace up and down the beach nervously. Every few strides he would cast an anxious look up in the sky and would lower his head once more when he noticed the clear skies. He had rather hoped that no one noticed his obvious distress… and his hopes were soon shattered.

"Is everything alright Michael?" Sun asked in her slightly broken English. Michael started noticeably but then quickly gave Sun a hasty smile.

"Oh yeah… everything is fine and dandy down here," Michael lied, trying to put a joking edge in his words. Sun merely cocked an eyebrow at Michael and he could have sworn that she had looked right into his soul. Michael tried his best to hold her gaze but felt himself instead falling short… very short.

"I know that you are worried about him Michael… but you can't let it control your life. Or your mind and way of thinking," Sun cautioned. Michael looked at her… his very sensitive defense system already being built.

"How would you know?" he spat venomously. "Have you ever had a child who's life is in danger? Have you ever felt worry for something that means the most to you in the world?" Michael cried, looking rather wild-eyed and self-pitying. Sun took a step back, looking hurt. She looked at Michael for a while… just shaking her head sadly. She looked down at her stomach and gently laid a hand on it, seeming to caress it.

"Don't think that you are the only one with guilt and with concerns that eat away at you," Sun hissed, obviously emotional. Michael paled slightly and looked back down at the sand again, feeling rather embarrassed. There was a tense silence where Sun seemed to expect Michael to apologize. When it seemed that wasn't going to happen, Sun decided it was time to take her leave. "Just be careful Michael… and always remember to do the right thing," she said softly, desperate to reach out to him. When Michael still didn't move Sun moved off slowly… and finally. For a wild moment Michael wanted to call out to her… to ask her how you know what the right thing to do is. He wanted to tell her everything… even the terrible task he was assigned.

"Oh but they'll know… they'll hear you," a little voice in Michael's mind warned. Michael sighed in defeat and went back to pacing… always and continually pacing… looking for a sign.

………………

Jack walked… no limped… no crawled forward, his breath wheezing terribly so that each breath seemed to shake and rattle at his lungs painfully. His water had long run out and his mouth was too dry for him to enjoy any of the food he brought with. All Jack could do is follow his instincts blindly and hoped that he was still headed in the right direction. His brain was even too numb for Jack to have a decent conversation with himself. Not that it would especially cheer him up or anything. Finally he came to a shuddering stop… simply lacking the will power to continue on. Everything in him hurt… his legs hurt, his arms hurt, his chest hurt, even his bloody eyes hurt but there was one thing that hurt the most… and that was his heart. All he could think of was that Kate was dead… she's dead and I never even got to talk to her one last time. Over and over his angry and hurtful words replayed through his mind making him miserable.

"Why am I still going on? She can't be alive!" Jack mumbled to himself tiredly. He was just about to let his eyes close so that he could just sleep for a long… long time when Jack could hear voices. They were distant and soft but he could still hear the voices… murmuring with each other. Jack lifted his head once more to listen and just the thought that there might be a point to this escapade gave Jack strength. He picked himself up off the dirt and began to once more move forward… moving only on a faint fantasy.

……………….

Claire felt her eyes droop involuntarily and she quickly forced them back open. She looked back down at Charlie and relaxed when she saw he was still sleeping (I suppose you could call it sleeping) peacefully. Nearly an hour ago he had started to jerk and mumble incoherently… and the tone of his voice and expression on his face terrified her. Claire slowly stretched her stiffening muscles and exhaled easily through her nose.

"How you doing Charlie?" she asked sleepily. Claire snorted when she realized that Charlie wasn't going to answer her anytime soon so she ambled over to where there was a stack of blankets. Looking up at the clock she realized it was time for another pill so she carefully measured out the amount instructed and eased the little white pills into Charlie's mouth. She smiled affectionately when Charlie subconsciously swallowed the pill on his own and Claire once more returned to her chair. Suddenly a thought crossed Claire's partially alert mind.

"I wonder how Aaron is doing? I'm sure he's having fun with Libby," Claire assured herself instinctively. As much as she loved Aaron Claire couldn't bring herself to leave Charlie in case he had another seizure or something. Once more settling back into a comfortable position, Claire's mind began to wander.

"A…" came a mumbled word from Charlie's mouth. Claire gave an exasperated sigh and once more left the chair to be closer to Charlie.

"What was that Charlie?" she asked sweetly, remembering Charlie telling her that he liked it when she talked to him.

"Aar…" Charlie tried again. Claire tensed a little and leaned in even closer to hear Charlie better.

"What?" she asked again anxiously. Charlie's face contorted as though he was straining very hard.

"Aaron," he finally forced out. Claire paled for a moment and felt herself tremble a bit.

"What about Aaron Charlie?" Claire whispered, leaning in even closer. Charlie was silent for a moment before uttering the name again with more urgency.

"Aaron!" he insisted, slight panic forming in his voice. Claire's face turned ashen and she subconsciously clutched Charlie's hand in a death grip. "Aaron, Aaron, Aaron!" Charlie muttered hoarsely one more time before falling silent again. Claire felt herself become panicky again.

"What about Aaron Charlie?" she screamed. "What is wrong with Aaron?" she cried desperately, clutching his hand even harder. Claire stared hopefully into Charlie's face for what seemed like hours before finally throwing herself away, noticing the grip she had on him.

"He must be having a memory or something… you know when he tried to baptize Aaron for you… it's okay," Claire reasoned… not wanting to think of what else he could have meant. Something deep inside of her argued though. That look that was on Charlie's face could not come from a memory… it was urgent and pleading. Desperate.

…………………

"Let's stop here," Kate heard a gruff voice insist. A second later she felt herself fall roughly to the ground. Unable to contain herself, Kate gave a pained yelp. Sounds of amused chuckling could be heard but she was otherwise left alone. Kate tried to curl her knees up but found she was unable to because the ropes were too tight and she didn't really feel like cutting off all circulation in her lower half.

"What do they want with me?" Kate asked herself for what seemed the millionth time. "I wish I hadn't been so rash… I wish I had just stayed in the camp," Kate scolded herself, feeling very self-pitying.

"What do you say we take the bag off her head?" a voice suggested and there was a mumbled response.

"I suppose for a while… she can't know where we are anyways," the voice of the leader, "Zeke", replied warily. Kate jumped when she could feel hands touch the bag on her head but relaxed when she could hear the rope holding it on was being untied. Gradually the bag was pulled over her head and Kate was once more exposed to the world. She winced at how bright even the sinking sun but her eyes soon adjusted.

"Well ain't she a pretty one?" Zeke leered, leaning in closer to Kate. "I didn't notice that the first time cause it was pretty dark then…" Zeke chuckled, turning back to the rest. "It's all just a matter of patience now," he encouraged and the others smiled up at him. All except for one anyway… a young girl with dark hair that had an expression of slight fear.

"That must be Alex," Kate instantly thought. She found it strange later how she just knew who this girl was… but it was a strong feeling inside that told her that this girl was help. She was Kate's only hope at this point.

"You'd better hope that lover boy shows up soon," an Other that remained nameless threatened. Kate swallowed and nearly choked on her fear as she heard a slight rustling from the trees directly before her.

"I have to warn him… I have to let him know what he's getting into!" Kate thought desperately, searching for something that she could use to help her. She found nothing and decided to just try and scream at the top of her lungs, despite the gag.

"Jack!" she tried to scream though it came out very muffled and faint. "No! No, no, no, no, no go back!" Kate tried desperately to scream and she did accomplish some rather loud grunts and slurred words.

"Start the fire," Zeke instructed, motioning for one of his followers to do so. It was then that Kate noticed the large stack of wood and realized with horror that it was a sign. A signal for someone far away. And that was when the pieces of the puzzle fell into place.

"No," she thought desperately, squeezing her eyes shut to hide her tears. "No, no, no!"

…………

"What the hell?" Sawyer muttered, glaring up at the sky. Smoke was starting to curl up over the trees and Sawyer had a bad feeling about it. "What do you reckon that is?" he asked, a hint of fear in his voice. Sayid glanced up and also felt fear strike his heart.

"I don't know… but we have to hurry," Sayid shouted and began to run in the direction of the smoke. The entire group had a terrible feeling growing in the pits of their stomach… growing and growing until it nearly consumed them.

…………….

Michael paced…

One stride, two strides, three strides, four strides.

And routinely glanced up at the sky.

God I hope the signal isn't there.

Michael had so been in the habit of simply going back to pacing nervously that when he saw a faint curl of smoke coming over the trees he didn't know what to do. For a while he just stood there, dumbly, and groping in his mind for what it was he was supposed to do.

First signal… just prepare yourself… it's a warning.

Swallowing down his guilt and shame Michael tried to detach himself for what he was about to do. Slowly he pulled the gun out of his back pocket and carefully loaded two bullets into it.

Just in case you miss the first time.

Michael paused for a moment before once more returning the gun to it's normal state and heard the sickening click it made. Michael then sat down on the beach, trying to calm himself, as he continued to watch the smoke.

A/N: So what did you think? And trust me… whatever it is that you think Michael is about to do you are probably wrong. :D Please review and tell me what you think!